


THE COWBOY'S 
PLEDGE . 

A DRAMA IN A PROLOGUE 
AND ONE ACT. 



By Dr. Albert Carr. 




f 



THE COWBOrS 
PLEDGE . 

A DRAMA IN A PROLOGUE 
AND ONE ACT 

By Dr. Albert Carr. 

Copyright. Wlo by Albert Carr. 



CAUTION. The presentation of this drama for 
profit without the permission of it's propriator 
is strictly forbidden. Managers desiring to 
produce this drama are respectfully requested 
to communicate with the author. 

FIRST EDITION. 



HILL. CITY S. D. 

1910 



CAST OI<^ OHARAGTERiS. 

JACK H ART WE I. L. 

Poreman of the Circle-bar 
ran oh, A man of hie word 

JOE CORLSON. 

The handsomest cowboy on 
the range. 

'' CHERRY." A cowboy. 

BILL, BARTON. A saloon-keeper. 

ETHEL RAYMOND. 

The fair and the true. 

MOLLY MINGER. 

A young lady of many vices, 
which she casts aside for 
the lovc.oi- an honest man. 



PROLOGUE. 

SCENE. Bill Barton's saloon. 

]jap8e of two months between 
Prologue and Act one, 

ACT I. 

SCENE. Circle-bar ranch. 

Duration of drama, lialf hoar. 



©CID 2^9; 



THE COWBOY'S 
PLEDGE . 

PKOLOGUE. 

SCE>'^. Inside BUI Barton's 
saloo't^. Cowboys at bar snioking 
cigarettes and drinking. 

Bill. [Behind bar.] This is od ihe 
house. 

[Bill sets up drinks. (Jowboys 
drink. 

Cherry. Here comps quiet Jack. He 
don't driuk, but he'ti a blamed good 
fellow. 

Bill. You bet he is, and worse 'an 
forty bronchos in a mix up. 

Cherry. We'll do the drinkiiij^ Cor 
him.. Come, boys, this is ou me. [Bill 
sets up drinks. Enter Jack Hartwell, 
B.] Here's to the health of .lack 
Hart well! 

[All drink. 

Jack. How are you boys? Having 
a little time? 



4 'J'FJE CX)WBOV'8 PLEDGK. 

Chorry. You bet! We're chasin' the 
wildcat. Gome, Jack, have a cigar. 

JacU. Not now, Cherry. I have a 
letter to lead. It is from home. 

Cherry. Go ahead, Jack. There's no 
side-tracking a letter from home. 

Cowboys. That's the stuff! You 
bet! Etc. 

Jack . [Sits down at table, R. Opens 
letter.] It is from sister, Jennie. 
[Reads. \ ''On hecoration Day, we 
marched with the old soldiers to the 
cemetery. 1 jdactd a large wreath of 
beautiful white floivers on mother * 
grave. [Kisses letter.] Dear mother! 
[Bows Jiead, and sits sadly and. 
meditatively. 

Enter Joe Corlson and Molly 
Minger, R. 

Cherry. Have a drink, Joe. 

Joe. I'll take whisky. Cherry. Molly 
don't drink. 

Molly. You're a liar! [To Bill] 
Gim'me that bottle, you mooly. [All 
drink.] I wish, I was a fish. 

Bill. What'ud you do, Molly? 

Molly. {Making swimming motions.) 
I'd Bwim. (Laughing.) What else could 
I do? 



THE COWBOY'S PLEDGE. 5 

{All laugh and pound bar. 

Bill. That's one OD me. Have a drink 
on the house. 

[Bill seta up drinks. All drink. 
Molly turns, notices Jack, walks 
towards him, and pauses near him. 

Molly. I wonder what's the matter 
with Jack. He's sittin' awful silent and 
sad-like. {Advancing.) Say, Jack, any- 
thing gone wrong? 

Jack. No, Molly, 

Molly. What's the matter with you? 

Jack. I just received a letter. 

Molly. From your girl? 

Jack. No, from home. From my 
little Bieter. 

Molly. Why does it make you sad? 

Jack. It speaks of my mother's grave. 

Molly. {Gently.) Say, Jack, did you 
ever love anyone else besides your 
mother and your sister? Did you 
ever love a girl, a girl that might love 

you? 

Jack. Yes, once. I loved, but I lost. 
[A pause.'] With what good there is 
left in me, I am going to do good. 

Molly. {Placing hand on Jack' g 
shoulder.) Say, Jack, do you know, I 
like you better than any other chap on 
Uie lange? 



6 THE COWBOY'S PLEDGE. 

Jack. (Rising.) I like you, Molly. 
You are young, handsome, quite a girl. 
But you're on the stray, on the stray. 

Molly. I know it, Jack, I know it. 
{Wldvipering .) I ought to be dehorned. 

Jack. [Putting arm about her.) Don't 
cry. {Holding both her hands.) You say, 
you like me better than any other chap 
OQ this range? 

Molly. Yes, Jacjk. 

Jack. Well, then, if you'll straighten 
up for one year, I'll marry you,-- make 
you my wife. 

Molly. Will you, Jack? 

Jack. Yes, but on these conditions: 
{Counting on fingers.) No cigarette; no 
swearing; no liquor; no cowboy. The 
violation of any one of these conditione, 
the contracts off, and I'm free. 

Molly. {After a momenfs thought.) 
I'll do it, Jack. 

Jack. {Taking her hand.) The last 

promise I made my dying mother was, 

when once I gave my word, to keep it. 

I have given it to you, Molly. I will 

keep it,[jRamngr hand.] so help me, God! 

[Molly takes flask out of her pocket, 

and gives it to Jack. He throws it 

away. 

Molly. Well, I've begun. 



THy COWBOY'S PL.EDGE. 



Jack. Yes, you've begun. 

[Jack walks slowly to R. and exits. 
Molly staggers towards table, R. 
Molly. {At table.) No cigareete; do 
swearing; no liquor; no cowboy. 

[Sinks down onto chair. 
Joe. What's the matter with Molly! 
[All advance.] Jack been ycolding you, 
Molly? 

Molly. No. 

Joe. Then what the deuce ails you? 
Molly. (Rising.) Vm goiag to be a 
decent woman, and marry an honest 



man. 



Joe. You don't say! Who's the 
lucky man? 

Molly. Jaou Hartwell. 
Cherry. That's what Jack was 
buzzing her about. She's goio' to quit 
raisin' h— 1, and go to raisin' kids. 

{Cowboys laugh and yell. Molly 
looks coldly and defiantly at them. 



UROP-CURTAIN . 



THE COWBOY'S PLEDGE. 



ACT I. 

SCENE. Outside the Circle-bar 
ranch. Ranch-house tvith long 
vorch, R. Large cottonwood tree, 
C. Bench under tree. 

Enter Molly B.R.E, 

Molly. I thought I saw Jack ride up 
to the barn. [Enter Jacky L.] Yes, here 
he is. I've found you. How do you 
like my new riding-dreee? Isn't it a 
dazer? 

Jack. You're much improved in 
appearance since you begun to walk m 
the straight way. 

Molly. Yeu dear old sweetheart! 
[Bounds towards Mm with open 
arms. 

Jack. {Motioning her hack,) Not yet, 
Molly, not yet. When the year is up, 
you can lay your little head right here, 
{Tapping breast.) and I will love and 
cherish you, and defend you against the 
world. 
, Molly. [With a sigh.) It will be the 



THE COWBOY'S PLEDGE. 9 

longest year of ray life. 

Jack. Fight ii out, little girl, fight it 
out. 

Molly. I'm doing all 1 can, ain't I 
Jack? 

Jack. Yes, you've stuck it out for 
two monthf. There are ten more. 

Molly. Well, bye-bye! 1 just came 
to report, and get your opinion of my 
new riding-dress. 

Jack. Is that ail? 

Molly, Not exactly. If you would 
ki88 me once, only once, Jack, it would 
reward me for the past two months, 
and wonderfully shorten the next ten. 
My heart is beginning to hunger for 
love, Jack, — your love. 

Jack. {Raising hands.) No,- no! I 
am afrai<?, it raight — and besides you 
forget, I'm a cowboy. 

Molly. That's right! {Counting on 
fingers.) No cigarette; no swearing; oo 
liquor; no cowboy. 

{^Drops head, and exits R.R.E. 

Jack. I am confident now, Molly will 
win. 

Enter Joe Corlsgn, L. 

Joe. Old pard. I've come to have a 
heart to heart talk with you. 



10 THE COWBOY'S PLEDGE. 

Jack. Very well, Joe. 

Joe. I understand you have agreed 
to raarry Molly, if she keeps straight 
for a year. 

Jack. I have. 

Joe. She's keeping awful straight. 
She wont let me come near her. 

Jacts. Thai's proper. 

Joe, She used to be my girl- I noiiss 
the little devil. 

Jack. I don't doubt it. 

Joe. I'm having a lonesome time of 
it, Jack. 

Jack. Undoubtedly. 

Joe. Say, old pard, you don't 
really mean to raarry that girl? 

Jack. If she keeps straight for a 
year, I certainly shall. 

Joe. You don't mean it! 

Jack. Yes; if I ever meant anything 
in my life. 

Joe. Why she's a — 

Jack. {Fiercely.) Don't say it, Joe. 

Joe. Well, I won't. I didn't mean 
anything, only — 

Jack. It is the only, that annoys 
me. 

Joe. You certainly wouldn't raarry 
her, take her to your home in the East, 
and introdvce her to your pure and 



THK COWBOY'S PLEDGE. 11 

inaocent sister as your wife. 

Jaok. If I introduced her to my 
sister, it would certaioly be RvS my 
wife. Joe, I believe, Molly loves you. 

Joe. No, she's dead feone on you. 

Jack. No. She loves you, but 
respects me. In you she found love: id 
me, salvation. She tired of being a 
trifle and a plaything. She's trying, 
now, to be a woman. 

Joe. You are taking dangerous 
chances. Jack. One likes to know, that 
the mother of his children is a pure 
woman and has always been such. 

Jack. (Aside.) That's a dagger thrust! 

Joe. Do you know, Ethel Raymond, 
the boss's niece, is here? She came this 
morning. \Jack staggers towards 
eottonwood tree. Joe lights cigarette. 
Drops case.] So long, Jack. 

[Exit Joe, L. 

Jack. Ethel here! It is five years 
since she left for her home in the East, 
She has never written; never sent me 
any word. Oh, she has forgotten me! 
Perhaps she is married. [Enter Ethel 
Rayinond from ranch-house. She steals 
softly to-war ds Jack. He has back to 
her.] But what, what if she has 
not forgotten me; is not married; still 



12 THE COWBOY'S PLEDGE. 

thinks of me as I think of her — 

Ethel. {Grasping Jack's hand.) Jack! 

Jack. {Turning.) Ethel!— Yes, it is 
you. 

[About to embrace her, steps, drops 
head, then hands. 

Ethel. Why did you not answer my 
letter? 

Jack. I - never received any letter 
frona you. 

Ethel. You did not! JSiother must 
have destroyed it. She has done every- 
thing to keep me from you. But the 
day I became of nge, aad mistress of 
my own property, I started out to 
find you— you, Jack. That is why, I 
am here. 

Enter Molly R.R.E. 

Jack. God help me! 

{Molly steals across stage to cotten- 
wood tree, and hides behind it. 

Ethel. Are you married, Jack? 
Jack. No. 

Ethel. Do you love another? 
Jack. No. 

Ethel. Do you still love me? 
Jack. Yes,— yes, with all my heart 
and soul. Many times in the last tiv« 



T i 1 ^: CO w BO y 's ple dge. i a 

years, I would have given all the rest of 
my life for one moonent with you in my 
'arms, my lips pressed to yonra. But, it, 
canoot be now. I am pledged to 
another. I have given my wurd to 
marry her under certain eooditions. 1 
did this in my loneliness and desperation. 
I promised ray mother on her dying bed, 
to keep my word, when onee given. 
I have give<u it. Nay, nay, Eihel, 
between you and me, there is a 
grave— ray mother's grave. I dare not 
step over it. 

Ethel. Jack, you will either break 
your word, or break my heart. Either 
your konor or my happiness must be 
the sacrifice of this mistake. It is for 
you determine — which. 

[Hurries into ranch-house with 
emotion and despair. 

Jack. {Reeling.) What have I done! 
What h*ve I done! What have 
I doBe! 

ISinks down on bench. 

Molly. {Coming from behind cotton- 
wood.) What ha^re you doae, you 
chump! You've made a benevolent 
society of yourself, and put your foot 
in It. 

Jack, {Desperately) Molly, do yeu 



U TBE COWBOY'^; Pi.EDGE. 

love me? 

Molly. I like you, Ja.;k, but I don't 
love you. You don't, ijive me no 
chance. 

Jack. {Simply.) That's so; I doo't. 

Molly. You don't love me, Jack. 
You're just eroing to marry me to make 
me good. 

Jack. No matter what my motive. I'll 
keep my word. 

Molly. Poor tioy! You l<.ve Ethel. 
Ethel loves you. 

Jack. How do you know that? 

Molly. I stood behind the cotton- 
wood, and heard you two. 

Jack, {h'eproachfiilh/.} Did you do 
that, Molly? 

Molly. {With mock i^age andjealovsy.) 
Yes, and I'm going to do something 
terrible. What's this! [Picks up Joe^s 
cigarette crxse J Why, its Joe's cigaret te 
case. I've seen that before. Do you 
know what I'm going to do? It's just 
fierce! I'm going to smoke a cigarette. 
[Takes out cigarette. 

Jack. {With a flush of satisf action.) 
Are you, Molly? 

Molly. Yes. {A pause.) Why don't 
you tel! me, not to? 

Jack. Because it is a matter of vour 



THE COWBOY'S PLEDGE. L 



own honor, your own conpcience. 

Molly. (Counting on fingers.) No 
cigarette; no swearing: no liquor; no 
cowboy. If I violate any of these 
conditions, the ]igs up. If I light th^s 
cigarette, my wedding ^oes up in the 
first puff of smoke. 

Jack. (Innocently.) Arn you -^oing 
to light that cigarette? 

Molly. No, I'm going to put it back 
in the case, and think about it. [Jack 
drops head.] Gim'rae a match. 

\Jack raises hand, to vent pocket, 
then dropa it. 

Jack. I'll not give you a match. 

Molly. There's one in the rawo, 
[Takes match out of case.] Here's a 
place to scratch it. [Puts cigarette in 
mouth.] Now, for the light, Here goes 
my Jacky! [Lights match .ori cigarette 
case. She brings light toivards cigarette 
and ivithdraws it several times. Jack 
rises as .she brings light toivards 
cigarette, and sinks doivn as she 
withdraws it.] You don't want me to 
light it, do you? 

Jack. Are you going lo light it? 

Molly. Yes, if I can find the end of 
It. [bb] Here, you hold the match. 

Jack No, — never! 



16 THE COWBOY'S PLEDGE. 

Molly. {Admoniahingly,) You want 
to be more careful with that word of 
yours, after this. 

Jack. (Nodding head affirmatively,) 
Yea- 
Molly. Ouch, I'm burnt! [Throws 
match down. Jack sinks back with a 
look of profound dejection. Drops head 
in hands, and heaves deep sighs. Molly j 
aside] Poor fellow, how he's suffering! 
Love is a terrible thing. I must release 
him. [Quickly lights cigar^ette and 
smokes. Jack sl&wly raises head and 
sees her smoking. Dejection vanishes 
from his face, and he smiles.] Why 
don't you tell me to stop smoking? 
[Jack turns head away.] That's a d — m 
poor cigarette! [Throws down ciga- 
rette.] There, Jack, I've broke two of 
the conditions, and I'm going to 
break a third. [Throws arms about 
Jack and drops down on bench beside 
him.] Poor brother Jack, I'm so sorry 
for you, I could die. 

[Bursts into tears, and cries on his 

shoulder. 

Jack. There, there! You g» and tell 

Joe, I want to see him, [Both rise.] 

You have helped me; I am going to help 

you. 



THE COWBOY'S PLEDGE. 17 

[Exit Molly, L. Enter Ethel from 
ranch-house. Jack draivs revolver 
and loads it. Ethel advances tn 
alarm. Jack puts revolver back in 
belt. Ethel pauset. 

Enter Molly and Joe^ L. 

Joe. Mo!!y said, you wanted to see 
me. 

Jack. Yes, I've something to say to 
you. Joe, you love Molly. 

Joe. I'll admit, I didn't want her to 
marry you. 

Jack. She's not going to marrv me. 
I'm not going to marry her. 

Joe. Then the contract's off? 

Jack. Yes, Molly, you love Joe. 

Molly. I must confess it. What 
woman could help loving the big sport! 
Wh«n--a girl has a feller like that, she's 
got the world. 

Jack. Then you've get the werld, 
Molly. Have you a sister, Joe? 

Joe. No. 

Jack. Any other female relations 
living, that you know of? 

Joe. Sorry to say. Jack, none. 

Jack. Then you have no woman to 
disgrace by marrying Molly. [Draws 
revolver., and aims it at Joe. ] Throw up 



18 THE COWBOY'S PL.EDGE. 

your hands, or I'll fire. 

Joe. {Throivinq v.p hands.) What's 
up, Jack? 

Jack. Is your word j^ood for any- 
thing? 

Jo*^. I always keep it. 

Jack. Then promise me, you'll marry 
Molly, or I'll shoot you on the spot. 

Joe. Do you mean if. Jack? 

Jack. I mean it. Molly is a triie 
woman in spite of her former mistakes, 
I am certain, you were the first that led 
her to those mistakes. Will you marry 
her? Come, your answer. 

Joe. Yes, I'll marry her. 

Jack. You have given your word 

\^Puts revolver hack in belt. 

Joe. I'll keep it, old boy, and in my 
future conduct, I'll try and profit by 
your noble example. Give me your 
hand. 

[They clasp hands. Jack 
places Molly's hand in Joe's 
Turns, sees Ethel. 

Jack. I am free, Ethel. Pre© 
to love you; free to marry 
you. Will you accept me, now? 



THE COWBOrS PLEDGE. 19 
[Ethel rushes into Jack^s 

CURTAIN. 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 




LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 




017 398 579 4 * 



^ 



